We all know that being an effective communicator is a major part of being a successful leader, but we may not be aware that communication is broken down into three segments.
Researcher Albert Mehrabian first analyzed the components of a face-to-face conversation and found that:
Researcher Albert Mehrabian first analyzed the components of a face-to-face conversation and found that:
- Our words account for only 7% of how our message is interpreted
- Our tone accounts for 38% of the message
- The remaining 55% is attributed to our body language
We need to be keenly aware of our posture, how we are standing or sitting, if we are using hand gestures, and if we are making eye contact (and hopefully not rolling our eyes!).
Having eye contact is important as it helps maintain focus and attention, and when eye contact is lacking, or quickly shifting, the message may be viewed as one not to be trusted.
Regarding posture, think about if you lean in during a conversation, cross your arms, slouch, lean back in your chair, smile or have a poker face, nod to indicate you’re truly listening, or even if you move around during the conversation.
There’s also a recommendation to mirror the expression of the person delivering the message. This is helpful to show receptiveness and openness. An example is if the person is struggling with an issue, actively listen, show empathy, and be understanding. Another is that if great news is being shared, have a genuine smile and a sparkle in your eye!
With so many of us working virtually, pay extra attention to your tone, how attentive you are being, and how you are sitting and engaging others while on teleconference calls. It’s pretty easy to tell who’s multi-tasking and listening with “one ear”.
Active listening and using appropriate body language must become two of our strongest skills in order to be a strong communicator. Words matter, but our tone and body language even more so.
Sincerely,
Mike and Jan